Colorado School of Mines Reviews

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Krista from Colorado Springs, CO

07/16/2009

Reviewer is A current student here.

25 out of 27 people found this review useful.
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Great for these types of students

This school is great for students who are self motivated and have a passion for math, science, and engineering. Whether you are more introverted or extroverted, if the above applies to you, then you will do well here.

Tips for prospective students

My advice to anyone who is looking to apply to the Colorado School of Mines, is not to get discouraged if you have a lower GPA than others. This just means that you need to keep working on your grades and make sure to make an appointment to tour the campus, as well as talk with the admissions office. Immediately after returning home write whomever you spoke with at the admissions office an e-mail thanking them for there time. This will not necessarily get you in but it keeps your name in the admissions personnel's head. When you apply, make sure to write everything in your application. (i.e. extra-curricular activities, GPA, volunteer information etc.) Also make sure to check up on your application status, to make sure that it is getting looked at in a reasonable manner of time.

Bang for the buck

The cost to go to the School of Mines seems high for most people, but the opportunities that arise after graduation are immense. The education that you will receive is worth almost every penny and the extra help that is available to everyone eats up most of the rest of the change. The food however, is not worth the money.

Am enjoying being here

The environment that encompasses the School of Mines is incredible. From the scenery to the people, the feeling is priceless. There are so many different people from all around the world that it is an incredible experience. If there is something that you enjoying doing, there is probably a club or group here that you can join. The teachers are helpful and really do care about your learning and success.

Am learning a lot

For the first year at the Colorado School of Mines, the majority of the required classes are classes that many honor students have already taken in high school. The classes include calculus 1, chemistry 1 and 2, and physics 1. Granted, these classes are much more difficult in college than they were in high school.

Elijah

03/06/2011

Reviewer is A current student here.

8 out of 8 people found this review useful.
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Great for these types of students

-Prospective Engineers. -Lovers of Math and Science. -People seeking a challenge. -Residents of Colorado. -Students looking for a school with a smaller student body and campus. -People who love the outdoors.

Tips for prospective students

I would recommend staying focused on your studies. Don't let them overwhelm you. And when you start out, try joining a club or something of that nature. At Mines, it's nice to have a break from the day to day stresses.

Bang for the buck

Right now, I'm finding few blessings in the price of college, but I'm hoping as I approach graduation and start finding jobs or internships, the college will pay for itself. Aside from the the cost of college itself, Mines is a very well priced school for the education you are receiving. For Colorado students, Mines is on par for tuition costs with CU; for non-resident students, Mines is considerably cheaper. Both situations are indicative of a much better education for a much better price.

Am enjoying being here

Even though I just said that Mines is super hard, there really is a lot of fun to be had. There are so many clubs that a person can join, it made my head spin. The community in the dorms is tight knit and friendly. Even as a freshman living off campus, I find plenty of ways to have fun and hang out with other people.

Am learning a lot

I would definitely say I'm learning a lot. As is par with the idea of Mines being super hard and everyone always doing homework, there is always work to do and new material to be learned. The material is very interesting, though, and thoroughly engaging.

I came to this school as a very open-minded, liberal individual. Being as it is an engineering college, the general vibe of the campus is fairly conservative. It made it a little more difficult to adjust and find friends that I could connect to well. However, the farther you get in school and your intended major, the more people you will meet with interests and values that match your own. Also, don't get behind on your schoolwork. You have to be very self-motivated, but completing your work ahead of time saves a lot of stress and worrying on your part. It's worth it, I promise.

Bang for the buck

As an out-of-state student, the cost of attending CSM is very expensive. I was able to get grants and scholarships from the school that made it more affordable, though (don't rule it out if you think you can't afford it!). The cost is definitely worth everything offered at the school. The academics couldn't be better and there are wonderful academic services offered for free: tutoring every weeknight, academic excellence workshops, and very open and helpful instructors.

Am enjoying being here

The college is nestled right beneath the mountains, so it's a beautiful place to be. There's tons of stuff to do here, especially if you love the outdoors. I am literally minutes away from great hiking and biking trails and the Clear Creek that runs through downtown Golden has a kayaking park through it! And if you love skiing or snowboarding, what better place to be than Colorado? Often times, though, I find that I don't have enough spare time to utilize all that is offered. Every spare minute, though, I'm outside enjoying beautiful Colorado!

Am learning a lot

The academics of this school are amazing. I am truly astounded at everything I have learned so far, just in one semester. The classes are rigorous, no doubt, but completely worth it. The harder you work, the more you learn, and this school is all about learning.

Becca from Morrison, CO

01/06/2010

Reviewer is A current student here.

5 out of 7 people found this review useful.
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Great for these types of students

Mines is great for students who take initiative. Here, you have to want to learn, and you have to want it bad. The first year students who never had to study in high school find that they need to learn studying techniques. If you do not study, and sometimes if you do, there will be classes that you will not do well in. Students need to be able to accept and handle setbacks, need to be able to adapt. The main thing is, you better like math and science a lot because that is what you will be doing for the next 4, 5, or 6 years.

Tips for prospective students

Tips... hm well just for like every other university.. Keep your grades up and take advanced classes. Just because you school doesn't require you to take another year of science, math, or foreign language doesn't mean you shouldn't. You will be highly recognized at Mines for having the initiative to take the advanced courses. Plus it helps in the first semester if you have a year of Calculus, Chem, and Physics under your belt. And where academics is important, extracurricular activities are almost as equally important. Being well rounded is important plus there are things that you can't learn in the classroom. Also set up an appointment with a admissions counselor and schedule a tour of the campus. Its important to make an impression, so whenever you have a question stop on by the school or email an admission councilors as much as possible to keep your name in their head.

Bang for the buck

Colorado School of Mines is THE best bang for your buck. When students graduate the chance of employment is higher for Mines students then anywhere else for their expertise. When working Mines graduate make bank. The average income for a new graduate is 60,000. That almost covers 4 years of tuition. Yes, Mines is the most expensive public school in Colorado, but don't be to frightened by the dollar sign. There are several grants and scholarships available from the school to help with the cost of tuition and room and board.

Am enjoying being here

I enjoy being at Mines because the school focuses on my favorite subjects, math and sciences. Its not like high school where the students are here just to be here, like other colleges; Mines students care about their education and what they get out of it when at school. Its true, the nerdy vibe that Mines gives off, but the environment encourages more than just studying. The campus is very open and the school itself wants the students to have a rounded life. On Thursday nights the school sponsors a movie night and the ORC rents out equipment for activities such as boarding, skiing, camping, and tubing. I live so close to the mountains now, every weekend I go up and board. The city of Golden is cute and very friendly, but there are several, i guess, entertainment areas near by such as Colorado Mills mall and Belmar shopping center.

Am learning a lot

Throughout high school I took a lot of AP classes and thought what could be different between this and college? But Mines covers everything from high school and more. In every class, something new comes up all the time and proves to be challenging every day.

Cody from bennett, CO

05/19/2011

Reviewer is A current student here.

4 out of 4 people found this review useful.
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Great for these types of students

This school is great for students looking to get the best out of their college experience; the best engineering education one can find, along with all of the joy that comes from being in college, that last step before choosing a career. If one is gifted in mathematics and sciences, has a drive to always learn more, and seeks to put him or herself on the best path to a great career in fields of engineering, then this is the right school for him or her.

Tips for prospective students

Tip #1: Bring your game face. - If you want to work hard and learn more than you ever have, but have fun while you're doing it then this school is for you. Expect to roll into this school, work harder than you ever have, but roll out with a great job and one of the brightest futures possible. Tip #2: Learn how to take your game face off. - One will learn to work hard at this school, but he or she needs to learn how to play hard too. The school offers too many ways to have fun while learning to not be involved in something fun. Tip #3: Seek help where help is needed. - At the Colorado School of Mines one can expect to have a hard time in some classes. There is hope! In almost every nook and cranny around the school one can find a study group, a tutoring program, an academic workshop, et cetera. Seek help if you need it! There is always someone willing to help, you just have to ask.

Bang for the buck

The prices to attend the Colorado School of Mines, both out-of-state and in-state, can seem quite high compared to other schools in or around the Denver area or even other schools with the same academic orientation. What needs to be looked at are the statistics for graduating students from this school. The job placement rate for graduating students from this college is astounding, The placement for Petroleum Engineering Majors is 100%. This is just in part of the school's 95% job placement rating overall up to 12 months after graduation. The average for all starting salaries including all majors is $65,000. The cost of attending the Colorado School of Mines is by far outweighed by the benefits of graduating from this school.

Am enjoying being here

The Colorado School of Mines campus offers numerous clubs and organizations that one can enjoy at their own leisure. If one is looking to join a group that shares common ideas, or if one is simply looking to stop by occasionally to relax and have fun with fellow students, there is a club/organization for all. The Student Recreation Center hosts numerous intramural sports that can be joined by any team. The gym in the Rec Center is adequately supplied for type of strength conditioning that one could pursue, and includes an indoor track and numerous basketball courts. If one is looking to take a break from studying or just looking to belong to something, then the Colorado School of Mines does not fall short of providing a fun, interactive college experience.

Am learning a lot

Dedication to the opportunities given to a student at the Colorado School of Mines will prepare him or her for not only the career in which he or she may become engaged, but also many other careers within the fields of engineering pursued by graduates from the school. The school has a reputation for its rigorous academic program, and if one can dedicate to trying his or her hardest, then he or she can succeed. The professors at this school are almost all acclaimed experts in their respective fields, and they have immense amounts of experience in the field. This provides a connection between the course material and an example of the material's application in a certain career.

Katlin from Woodland Park, CO

If you are driven, wanting an amazing career, and are a lover of math and science, there is a place for you at Mines.

Tips for prospective students

I encourage you to learn how to study. It sounds ridiculous because at one point we all think we know how to study and memorize facts. But at CSM, studying is how a majority of your time is spent. If you're struggling, take advantage of the free tutoring, office hours, and recitations. They're there to help you understand concepts and applying them. Even joining a study group with friends, at least one person in that group will be able to explain something to you and if you can be that person, it helps solidify the concept in your head even more. The first year at Mines tries to knock you down as hard as it can. It wants you to get to the edge of yourself and it forces you to decide if you really have what it takes to make it for four or even five years. I know plenty of upperclassmen that have told me that they've had their share of breakdowns and freak outs, but they weathered through them. At the end of the day, you only thought you were the smartest kid in school. And every day, we are reminded of that fact: Just because we thought it, doesn't make it so. CSM challenges everyone, no matter what level they are at. In the end your internal drive will carry you through.

Bang for the buck

CSM is amazing for the amount you spend. The classes prepare you completely for every future course and there is so much hands on learning you actually do what you're going to do in your career. The professors in your major know exactly what they're talking about because they have all worked in the area they're teaching you. There aren't as many class fees and tons of free tutoring and extra recitations to help you get ahead. They have abroad opportunities that cost the same as going to CSM and they can be full semester or during a summer. If you want to go to CSM they will help you find a way.

Am enjoying being here

Even as difficult as the courses are, there is always something to do to get your mind off the brain-melting. Sleeping became an amazing thing that made my and my roommates world go round. When we were studying, our breaks were 3 A.M. dance parties. There is ALWAYS somewhere to go and wonderful people to be with. You just have to be willing to step outside yourself those first few weeks to find them. Introverts force Extroverts to stay indoors and do what needs to be done, while Extroverts drag the Introverts out and about looking for anything to take every one's mind off of academics. CSM is a work hard to play hard(er) kind of school. No one gets crazy every night and some weeks, the campus is silent; but there is always some way to have fun and let loose.

Am learning a lot

I'll tell you now, it is not at all like high school at CSM. Keeping up with the demands of your courses can be extremely tiring and make your brain feel like it's melting. However, it forces you to not only learn the course material, but you end up learning a lot about yourself. You realize very quickly how high your frustration level is, how determined you are, how late your body can really stay up and still function, and how fast you can dressed for an early morning class. The professors push you hard and expect you to keep up. If you don't and don't look for help, they won't stick their hand out to help you up unless you go to them.

Katie from Pueblo, CO

If you know that you want to something extraordinary, then come to CSM. Engineering is a great way to explore this world. Don't forget, you need to be good at math and science, and decent at writing.

Tips for prospective students

Get scholarships and don't be sad when you end up getting a C in a subject. Go out and make friends, don't just stay in your dorm room and expect things to get better. Don't be shy, join a club. Finally, don't be afraid of your teachers, they are there to help not to judge.

Bang for the buck

Honestly CSM isn't that expensive. Places like CU-Boulder and even the University of Colorado Colorado Springs is the same cost or even more. My friends have said they pay about the same as I do, but I don't think they are getting the same education as I am.

Am enjoying being here

I like the atmosphere CSM brings. Focus, success, freedom are all things that I have experienced during my first semester. I have already made friends that I plan on having for the rest of my life and the teachers have helped me out more then expected.

Am learning a lot

I have taken a lot of the courses I am currently enrolled in while I was in high school, but I don't think I would know everything if i hadn't taken the courses before. The classes have given me a taste of what college is actually like, but sometimes I don't think they are fully explained (chem 1).

Jordan from Ely, NV

-Hard Working -Self-Motivated -Like Small Campus -Enjoy Problem Solving -Want a career in Engineering

Tips for prospective students

Be ready to learn on your own and be frustrated a lot, don't be afraid to go to office hours as much as you can you are paying the professor's salary and they are technically working for you. Don't expect to breeze through classes like you did in high school, Mines is a completely different experience.

Bang for the buck

In my opinion this is where Mines really needs a lot of improvement. The school is terribly expensive, and while there are quite a few scholarships available from the school it is still much to high priced. The main reason that I don't feel that it is worth as much a I am paying is because monetary waste can be seen all over campus, from brand new landscaping around the president's house as tuition goes up $1000 a semester to the absurd amount of vice-presidents and the huge mess of bureaucracy that slows everything down to a painfully slow crawl.

Am enjoying being here

I have met a lot of people that I really like here. From other students to TAs and professors. I am heavily involved in a couple of professional organizations and met many people through them that have already helped me in the my career.

Am learning a lot

Mines is a great school for learning. However, because of the large amount of material that each professor wants to cover and the limited amount of time in the school year there is a lot of self learning. Class is basically for covering the general idea of a topic and then it is up to the students to learn how to apply it to the more difficult involved problems. I call it learning by frustration, it works extremely well if you are willing to put in the effort, it doesn't work at all if you don't. Plus there is nothing more satisfying than getting an answer right after you have worked for so long on it.

Colten from Elbert, CO

02/06/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

2 out of 3 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

the colorado school of mines is very very safe. there are campus police around all the time, and they are not your mall-cop in any way at all. there are phones throughout campus that are one button away from contacting the police, and the golden police are on-call 24/7 for campus emergencies. in addition, all students are required to sign up for the emergency alert system, which calls, txts, and/or emails all students during emergencies, weather warnings, etc. and finally, all living areas are blaster-card-access only, and every building on campus can be locked down by security, within a heartbeat.

Greek Life

greek life on campus is pretty decent. there are 3 sororities and 7 fraternities. greek life is not huge here on campus, but you can be very involved if that is what you choose to do. if you are interested in greek life, then go to http://studentactivities.mines.edu/greeklife

Clubs and Activities

mines has a huge amount of clubs and activities, there is literally everything that you can think of, and if we don't have it already, then you can make the club yourself. if you have enough people who wanna do it, then you can start it. just for the record, mines has more combined intramural sports, club sports, and clubs than cu boulder, a school easily 10 times bigger than the colorado school of mines.

Great for these types of students

-students who are ambitious, persevere even when things get tough, and who wish to excel in life. -students who want to actually make a difference in the world, enough said.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

as far as tradition here at mines, all freshman go on the m-climb during freshman orientation, their first week on campus. this is an incredible time where all the freshman climb mount zion, carrying a 10-pound rock from their hometown the whole way, all the way to the m. when there, all the freshman sing the school song until it's perfect, (they learn it the whole way up on the climb), and then re-whitewash the m....or rather, more of each other, but that's besides the point.

Bang for the buck

as far as getting your monies worth, the colorado school of mines is the best deal you'll ever make when it comes to your education. with an amazingly high post-graduation job-placement rating, you are almost 100% guaranteed a job straight out of college. if you don't believe me, just call the school's career center, they'll lay your unease to rest.

What to do for fun

well, when you aren't doing homework, in class, or taking tests, or doing more homework...then there are many hundreds of things that one can do for fun here in the golden, colorado area. first and foremost, golden is literally a 20-minute drive from denver, where you can do just about anything you can think of. some great things you can do in denver include: visit the 16th street mall, party at six flags: elitch gardens, visit the butterfly pavilion, go the capitol building and visit the denver mint, as well as go the pepsi center for the nuggets, the avalanche, the colorado mammoths, or the rapids. and coors field is just a short walk from there, where you can watch the rockies attempt to get to the world series. as for in and around golden, there are many ski resorts that are mere minutes away, hiking and camping whenever you want it, all you can eat pizza and salad and woodies pizza, an amazing wood-fired pizzeria downtown, and not to mention, the coors brewery, where you can take a tour anytime, and if you're 21, the short tour that always ends well.

Food and Dining

campus food for freshman is pretty good. this year they changed caterers from aramark to sodexo, and since then the food service and quality has greatly increased. in addition to sodexo's high-end cafeteria food, where you can have unlimited meals, there are also other on-campus food choices. these include an einstein's brother's bagels, starbucks, subway, and the juice lab, where you can get smoothies, protein shakes, and much more.

Dorm Life

as far as dorm life is concerned, the school of mines has many options and a great variety of student living. there are four traditional halls, which is 'traditional' living, meaning you have a roommate (note: you can live in your own room in the traditionals, it's just a limited option), there are community bathrooms, (sinks, toilets, and 4 private showers per floor). there are also many other options, including mines park (apartment-style living about a ten minute walk from campus, (still owned and policed by the school though)), weaver towers, (suite-style living, where you have up to 5 suite-mates, share a living area, 2 private bathrooms (with showers), and can live in a closet-sized space pretty much. and finally, there is maple hall, the brand new residence hall on campus, finished the summer of 2011 and in it's first year of use, (the academic year of fall 2011-spring 2012). in maple, there are many options, you can live by yourself in a single, live with another, (one roommate), or live in a suite, where you share a bathroom with two other suite mates, but they live on the other side of the bathroom.

Academic Rigor

like i said before, the colorado school of mines is extremely academically challenging, especially for those who have not been well-prepared by their high school. if you have trouble being a self-starter or staying motivated to do work, then be cautious when considering mines, it is not a stroll in the park...by any means.

Tips for prospective students

tips for anyone considering mines: 1.) if you do not wish to work hard for you education and give up easily when it comes to challenges, then the school of mines is not for you. 2.) if you are a senior in high school and are considering mines, or even a transfer student, then let it be known that mines is designed to filter out anyone who cannot make it through their first year. if you can survive freshman year and common hour exams, then you will make it at mines. 3.) if you are one who parties excessively, do not come to mines, as you will not enjoy it, and will fail very quickly. go to cu boulder instead, they will welcome you graciously. 4.) if you do not know what you want to do with your life, figure it out before you consider mines, and if you don't know what type of engineering fits you, it's alright, you have time to decide when your at mines, so you don't have to feel pressured...senior year is stressful enough without trying to declare you major when you're 17, trust me, i've been there. 5.) and finally, if you enjoy your ones and zeros in the morning, then come here, end of story. you will be accepted.

In three sentences

the colorado school of mines is an extremely rigorous, intense, and rewarding college. there are challenges every day, and every class, no matter what you take, is hours worth of work and there is always something to be done. if you are looking for a top of the line education and incredible post-graduation opportunities, (there is a 98% job placement rating), then the colorado school of mines is for you.

Michael from Leesburg, VA

07/19/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

2 out of 2 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

In the year that I've been going to school, I didn't hear of any problems on campus. It's a small campus and a tight knit community, so if something happened, you would definitely hear about it. The only real issues were a few bike thefts.

Greek Life

The fraternities and sororities on campus attract a lot of people, especially the sororities. Because there aren't many girls at Mines to begin with, most tend to join a sorority so that they don't feel as overwhelmed by the ratio. While a lot of people join the greek life, it doesn't really impact the school as much as at other schools. They may host an event from time to time, but for the most part they stay in the background.

Clubs and Activities

All the majors have clubs associated with them. I am in the Mining Department and I'm a member of two clubs, SME and UCA. They offer students of all levels of knowledge and experience a chance to see what the degree they're working for has to offer. The clubs are great for networking and learning what can't be taught in the classroom.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

When you arrive as a freshman, be prepared to hike two miles up the mountain. As part of the orientation, you have to take a 20lbs rock from your hometown and carry it up the mountain. Enjoy!

Bang for the buck

Don't come here looking for a good time or a great social experience. If you come here, it should be to get a good education. And let me tell you, it doesn't get any better than what Mines has to offer. For the price of a state school, Mines offers the best education around and if you graduate from here, you will be miles ahead of everyone else when it comes time to find a job.

What to do for fun

On campus, there isn't much to do for fun. All your time during the week is devoted to your school work. Because of this, most people leave campus on the weekends. The school is located in the most ideal spot for all outdoor activities. There are the Rockies just a stones throw to the west for all the hikers and rock climbers and skiers and all the other outdoor adventure types. In town there is a white water creek that you can go rafting and kayaking on as well as swim in. Just east of town are a pair of tables that you can bike, hike, climb, etc... and only 20 minutes east of town is the city of Denver which has tons of fun things to do for people with all sorts of interests.

Food and Dining

This past year the school hired a brand new company for the on campus dining. They started out really well and the food tasted great, but after a few weeks the quality started to decline. By the end of the year, it was almost the same thing every night and none of it was very good.

Dorm Life

Because of the amount of work you are given at the school, week days are very quite and you don't usually see people out and about socializing. For the most part, everyone is cooped up in their room studying. It has almost a hotel atmosphere to it.

Academic Rigor

Hardest academic experience of my life. I have never studied so much and devoted so much time to school before.

Tips for prospective students

You will see grades that you have never experienced before, and not in a good way. Do not be disappointed by this. Make sure you stay completely focused the entire time you are here or you aren't going to make it at this school. During the week, you will study more and work harder than you ever have before. This will wear you out, but hang in there... It's worth every bit.

In three sentences

This school is academically more challenging than anything you have or will ever experience. The social life is almost non-existent, but school spirit is very strong. The hard work put in at the school will pay of huge down the road when it's time to start a career because employers know that this school is one of the best there is.

Kayla from Golden, CO

If you want to attend CSM these are some of the traits you might want to be: hardworking, dedicated, innovative, excited about learning, involved, and ability to have fun in a small town!

Tips for prospective students

If your thinking about going to CSM there are a few things you should know. 1) Learn how to study and time manage your first semester, cause it only gets harder after that. 2) Take advantage of teachers, tutors, and other students. 3) If you live in the traditional's then find out who on your floor is in your classes and become friends with them. 4) The cafeteria is not good, so you may want to invest in a mini-fridge. 5) At one point you will get overwhelmed. That's alright seek out help and persevere. 6) If you fail a class, and there is a decent probability you will, don't panic. 7) Keep all your notes from core classes, they will help you later. 8) Find extracurriculars to keep you busy, such as club sports, Greek life, or one of the many clubs. *but be careful, don't pick too many extra activities or your studies may suffer 9) Invest in a nice coffee maker, or ask for several Starbucks gift cards for graduation.

Bang for the buck

If you decide to become an engineering major then the School of Mines is definitely worth your money. You have a 14:1 teacher rating which means lots of 1 on 1 attention. The school is challenging, but well respected throughout the engineering world which is helpful in acquiring jobs after college.

Am enjoying being here

As long as you are prepared and work hard you will enjoy being here. That doesn't mean its always easy, anyone who has attended the School of Mines will tell you that sometimes its not always the greatest, but if you can persevere its a great place to be. Its also good for those who like small towns and outdoor activities.

Am learning a lot

If you don't like to learn then the Colorado School of Mines might not be for you. You will learn a great deal, even in your first semester so come prepared an excited to work hard and learn lots!

Lauren from Fort Collins, CO

1) Solid work ethic 2) Loves math and science 3) Good time management skills 4) Likes a small campus feel 5) Responds to setbacks well

Tips for prospective students

1) Figure out how you study best before you get here. The typical Mines student never had to study in high school, so figuring out how to study for the first few tests freshman year ends up leading to a lot of less than satisfactory grades. If you know what works best for you before you get here, you're that much more ahead of everyone else. Taking AP classes is a good start because studying for an AP test is good preparation for learning how to study in college. Exposing yourself to calculus, chemistry, and physics is always a good idea too. 2) Find a good group of friends that you can do homework with. I highly recommend staying in the traditional dorms. You meet at least 30 other people on your floor, and you're bound to become friends with at least a couple of them. This group of friends can get you through some of the most grueling weeks, whether it's studying together or going out somewhere to get a break from the daily grind that Mines can be. 3) Take time to be well balanced. Hiring managers know that kids at Mines are smart, but what they really need is engineers who can communicate and work on a team. Playing WOW or XBOX every night after you're done studying won't get you these skills, so try to branch out and meet some people – they probably won’t even bite.

Bang for the buck

Mines is probably as expensive if not more expensive than any other public school in Colorado, but it's worth every penny. The median starting salary of a Mines grad is $60,000, and median mid-career salary is $109,000, so for in-state tuition, you're practically recouping the cost of tuition in a year or two. A degree from Mines does a lot for an employer - they know the reputation the school has and chances are that they've hired Mines graduates who have done good work for them, so you already have a positive image when it comes to looking for a job. At Mines, you get a great education for a very good price, and job placement rates for most majors are around 95%.

Am enjoying being here

I absolutely love it here. Golden is a great place to live and the size of campus is great - not too big, but big enough. It’s close to Denver and the mountains, so it’s a great location too. There are lots of places to fit in - for me it was athletics, but there are clubs for every interest on campus (including plenty of nerdy ones, if that’s what you’re into). The Mines Activity Council hosts events like movie nights and comedians (every week), and IM sports are lots of fun too (it's always entertaining to watch nerds play sports). A big concern for most people is that Mines students don't have time for a life. And I can't lie to you - going to Mines is a lot of work, and you have to be prepared for it. There’s always more homework or studying to do, but with good time management skills, you can make time for “the college experience”. I don’t have unlimited free time, but I’m not doing homework 24/7. Also, the difficulty of courses brings the student body together. You don't have psychology majors mixed with music majors mixed with engineers. Everyone went through the same rigorous classes and ate the same not so great dorm food as freshmen. But these things help students bond, and everyone understands when it's just one of those weeks where you don't have time to go out.

Am learning a lot

Most classes are challenging and interesting. Every school you go to is going to require you to take classes that you're not super interested in, but the majority of Mines core classes (Calculus, Chemistry, Physics) are relevant to every graduate's career. The expectations at Mines are high, and as such you learn a lot (and not just in school related things) to meet these expectations.

Nicholas from Highlands Ranch, CO

08/11/2011

Reviewer is A current student here.

1 out of 2 people found this review useful.
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Great for these types of students

-Self motivated, which doesn't mean you have to do everything on your own. You just have to want to do well. Working with others is a necessity. You have to be willing to work with people and to ask questions. I don't think that I would have survived without my friends and classmates to get me through. Plus it is something that any interviewer will ask you about. They like team oriented people. -This is a great place for anyone who likes to spend time outdoors. There are 300 days of sunshine for a reason, to get out and play! Plus downtown is only 30 minutes away for those who like the big city atmosphere as well. We do have, at least what used to be great, local sports teams as well that you can go to. -Anyone who is ready to take on the challenge!

Tips for prospective students

One thing to keep in mind, it is up to you how well you do here. Don't let anyone say you can't do it, or let anyone scare you. It is a challenging school for a reason, they don't give these diplomas to just anyone. Students who make it through are valued for a reason, they actually had to learn something. It might be a cliche but it is one of my favorite quotes, Its supposed to be hard, if it was easy everyone would do it. Be open to new experiences, try new things all the time, don't get stale. Learn how to para glide or skydive, go mountain biking. You will meet people you never would have before and you might actually like it. Don't worry guys, although the guy to girl ratio isn't ideal, the number one party school in the country is just 20 minutes up the road in Boulder, plus DU, CSU, and several other school are nearby that you can visit as well to get away once in a while.

Bang for the buck

This is a great buy. Upon graduation you are almost guaranteed a job as many companies value mines students for their work ethic, ingenuity, and dedication. There is also a wide network of alumni that come back to recruit every year. There are so many opportunities to experience new things here. There are possibilities of undergraduate research, which is very rare at universities. There is a well developed study abroad program, which I was able to participate in, where they partner with schools all around the world. Coming here you definitely get what you pay for.

Am enjoying being here

This is a great campus. I think that the best part for me is the small focused student body. The fact that everyone in your dorm is taking the came classes was great, you can go to anyone anytime for help. You get to know so many more people and build stronger relationships with the people around you. It doesn't feel like you are just another number here. The mountains are another great reason for coming here. All resorts are within 90 minutes, and you can do any outdoor activity you can think of. You can also get into things that you have never tried before. For me, I got to go kayaking and rock climbing for the first time in my life in the first week of school. If you are willing to go outside your comfort zone you are bound to find something that fits you out here.

Am learning a lot

You will definitely learn a lot here. Since it is an engineering school you will start right away in calculus, physics, chem, etc. Here they require a few more classes for you degree and many will get a minor in something which is why most students take 4-5 years to finish. I would encourage you to explore a minor, it can take you to an area of study you weren't even aware existed. For example, I came in looking to do mechanical engineering, when I got into the bioengineering minor I found a whole new place this degree could take me. There are other minors in materials sciences, space exploration, explosives, chemistry, physics, etc. Different combinations can really open you eyes to the possibilities of what you can study and where your career can go.

Amanda from Castle Rock, CO

Very safe, there are Mines police that are always on campus and blue call boxes everywhere in case of an emergency.

Clubs and Activities

Get involved! There are tons of great clubs and activities to partake in!

Great for these types of students

Great for students who don't need tons of parties and like to gather up a group of friends and play on a minecraft server for hours.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

Coming in as a freshman make sure you do the M-Climb. The M-Climb is freshman initiation and is a blast with all the new friends you've made. You carry a ten pound rock from campus up to the M on the front of look-out mountain. E-days is also a must! Mines hosts concerts, homemade fireworks and there is tons of free things to do and free food!

Bang for the buck

The price they charge for food is not worth it! The cost of going to school is alright if you can get the good teachers.

What to do for fun

There is a lot to do in Golden! Kayaking, skiing, tubing, biking, golf, a great rec-center, and shopping. Campus is also just a few minutes from downtown Denver, which is great! Be sure to take advantage of living in the foothills!

Food and Dining

Not very good, but it's food.

Dorm Life

It really depends on which dorm you get put into and which RA you get. The newer dorms are better or the Mines Park Apartments. It is Mines, so expect very anti-social people.

Academic Rigor

This school is extremely difficult but can be manageable with the right amount of time and effort put into homework and studying.

Tips for prospective students

Study hard, put in the hours, it will be worth it in the end! Go to the student activities Mines offers, especially the first year. Definitely take advantage of the tutoring and academic excellence workshops Mines offers.

In three sentences

Colorado School of Mines is a wonderful school! It is very challenging but has some amazing teachers to walk you through the classes. However, the exams can be overly complicated.

Bernard from Tulare, CA

Mines is not really a school where you have to worry about being safe. Theft is rare, and more serious crimes are pretty much non-existent.

Bang for the buck

Mines is great for learning the material you need to go into your field of study, especially if you make the effort to use the resources available, especially the professors. Especially for out of state students, it isn't cheap, but it is definitely worth the extra cost in the end.

Food and Dining

The dining options and atmosphere at Mines have improved dramatically, and are definitely worth it.

Dorm Life

Chances are, if you go to Mines, you will end up living close to someone with very similar interests, and people generally are great to be around anyway. There aren't a lot of parties, but you will find that parties aren't really a requirement for having a good time at school.

Academic Rigor

It's not easy to succeed at Mines, but everyone who wants to succeed, can succeed if they put forth a little effort. Classes are hard, and some people don't make it through, but generally those are the people who don't want to be at Mines in the first place.

Tips for prospective students

Work hard, play hard. School isn't everything, even at Mines. Swallow your pride and get help when you need it. It's not worth it to be someone who never goes to office hours if you don't succeed in the class.

Athena from Colorado Springs, CO

there is no lack of clubs and groups to join! do anything you want to do, because we probably have it.

Food and Dining

regular breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as einstein bros, starbucks, subway, pizza hut, and burgers.

Dorm Life

while living in a dorm does give you a social life on your floor, there is a certain lack of privacy.

Academic Rigor

this school is very difficult, but perfect for anyone looking for a challenge.

Tips for prospective students

don't come here thinking it will be easy! you only get good grades if you work your tail off.

In three sentences

colorado school of mines is a school that, above all, is focused on excellence. this includes anything from academic excellence to a flowering social life. it is also a haven where nerdiness is not just accepted, but encouraged.

Jeremiah from Golden, CO

02/14/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

1 out of 2 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

we've had a few bike thefts since i came here, and this is my second year. that is the only thing i have heard about, and we get quarterly crime bulletins from our public safety office. i believe this is one of the safer campuses you will find. golden is a small-ish town, and crime is not very high in this area at all.

Greek Life

they seem to have fun. not my area of expertise.

Clubs and Activities

hundreds of clubs and activities. there are councils that have been working on expanding this for years. i am in the shooting sports club, and considering others. there are at least a hundred clubs, club sports, and other groups that are geared towards hobbies and just having fun.

Great for these types of students

this school is great for anyone that wants to have a future in science, math, or just general engineering. you need to be able to put in some work hours though. this isn't your typical party school. we have fun, but you have to work hard to earn it.

this is a pricey education, especially for out of state. but i have talked to graduating seniors, as well as individuals in the working world, and so far all of them believe that mines is a good choice. the money spent can be justified by the high starting salaries that our school can almost guarantee if you graduate here.

What to do for fun

homework. but really we are a lot like other schools. there are lots of outdoor activities around golden. there's also the coor's tour, and believe it or not engineers know how to party too. there are plenty of opportunities for fun here. especially e-days, the only time our campus gets a little crazy. and by a little, i mean it is ridiculous for a week straight.

Food and Dining

it sucked when i was there, not gonna lie. the food was horrible, and the rule was, if it tastes bad, put bacon on it. but the school changed companies for their food supplies, and i have heard that it is a great improvement from last year. even if this is true, tread carefully around the slate cafe.

Dorm Life

i had a great experience with the dorm life. get to know people, and you will have fun. there's also a bunch of new dorms on campus, and they are pretty awesome. especially in comparison with the other buildings, which were built at least thirty years ago.

Academic Rigor

maybe a four and a half... yes this school is very difficult, but by no means impossible. there is no denying this. if you like english and the liberal arts, this may not be the school for you. math and science is the focus, and it doesn't ever get easier.

Tips for prospective students

bring a girlfriend with you, you won't find one here. also just try your best. everyone has some tough times here, but it is worth the difficulty in the end.

In three sentences

the colorado school of mines is a great place for learning and science. we have some awesome professors. despite the difficulty, the school is a great opportunity for anyone interested in the mathematic or scientific fields.

Nathan from Golden, CO

the campus police are great about warning campus when there are crimes in the area, and they are very nice to students as well.

Clubs and Activities

mines has quite a lot of active student organizations, and there are clubs to suit pretty much any interest, from juggling to board gaming, and from building home-made rockets to drama and dance.

Great for these types of students

anyone who wants to work hard to get a valuable degree.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

kafadar commons is a great place to play frisbee, soccer, or football, but sometimes you will find it criss-crossed with slacklines.

Food and Dining

i like some of the food court stuff, but i have no idea what the cafeteria is like. there are snack machines all around campus that take cash and credit cards.

Dorm Life

i never stayed in the dorms, but from what i saw, they look pretty crowded and dirty.

Academic Rigor

mines isn't as hard as everyone says it is.. as long as you are able to give up your freetime and even some sleep to spend a lot of time on every single class.

Tips for prospective students

study up on your algebra, trigonometry, and if possible, calculus, before you start your freshman year. when you take physics 1, you will be surprised at how many integrals you have to do. also, don't think that you won't be writing just because the application doesn't require an essay. brush up on your grammar and spelling, because you will have to do quite a lot of writing just for the core classes.

In three sentences

colorado school of mines is known internationally for their high academic standards and for producing quality engineers and scientists. they have great academic and industrial resources to jump-start your education and career, as well as many student organizations and sports opportunities.

Lorel from Golden, CO

Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon.
Reviewer has been to campus.

1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Clubs and Activities

If a club isn't there, make one. It's fairly easy to do so.

Great for these types of students

Those with an interest in math and science fit in great. If art is also an interest, they'll still fit in fine, but they might feel a bit lost without a dash of the nerd side.

What to do for fun

Go into the mountains. Besides that, Mines hosts many, nearly weekly events to entertain the students and to encourage them to get away from their studies a bit to be better rounded individuals.

Food and Dining

It used to be awful, but they upgraded the cafeteria and introduced more local chains, like Starbucks and such, so the food is much better now.

Dorm Life

You have plenty of options for living style, whether suite, traditional dorm, or apartment.

Academic Rigor

You'll be doing a fair amount of homework, but the teachers and fellow students are willing and eager to help you completely understand the subject.

Tips for prospective students

If you don't like math or science, or you're a guy attending only to find a hot girl to hang on your arm, or if you just want to party through college, do not consider this college. It's rigorous, but it will be worth the effort.

In three sentences

Mines has a beautiful campus set at the base of the Rocky Mountains, which offer unlimited outdoor adventures. The school itself is extremely well-known in the engineering fields, ensuring all its students future success in following their dreams. The people are all a bit nerdy, to say the least, but each wants to be there for the best education in their prospective dreams, and they will readily help others along.

M from GOLDEN, CO

Mines cops are everywhere. Don't be stupid on your longboard or bike, you'll get a ticket >:0

Greek Life

I'm not familiar with Greek Life, but I am super familiar with Alpha Phi Omega, which is basically Greek Life without the house and expensive dues.

Clubs and Activities

There's a club for everyone, and it's easy to start one if you aren't satisfied.

Great for these types of students

Nerdy, game-loving, quiet types find their niche here.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

M-Climb at the beginning of the year for all Freshman - bring a 10lb rock from home! If you forget your rock, go hit up Clear Creek or the rocks behind Slate :)

Bang for the buck

Relatively same cost as other CO colleges for a very well known and very respected institution.

What to do for fun

Join Alpha Phi Omega! Fantastic people, dirt cheap dues, leadership opportunities, and chances every week to have fun and get to know the Golden community. Otherwise, hike South Table :)

Food and Dining

Slate was TERRIBLE my freshman year (2007-2008), but I've heard that it has improved substantially with the new vendor.

Dorm Life

Forget the fancy life at Mines Park - live in the dorms!! You meet a ton of great people there, and they're generally all in the same classes as you so you can study together.

Academic Rigor

Serious school. No easy-A classes here!

Tips for prospective students

Be ready to fail /something/, it will happen eventually. Get involved in an extracurricular. I would have dropped out if I hadn't. These people will be your family away from home, your study buddies, and will help you get through your rough classes.

In three sentences

This is the most rigorous undergraduate experience I could have ever imagined. Quality teachers, quality education, quality students. A solid investment on my future.

Tara from Anchorage, AK

This campus has several security officers around at all times all over campus! I have never felt more comfortable walking around at night.

Clubs and Activities

Mines encourages students to get involved in school activities and clubs. Resident Life, the people who run all of the dorms, through several events through out the school year that help people meet other students! And bonus, they usually give you free food!

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

E-days is the best tradition at this school! It is a three day long affair with a carnival, cardboard boat races, concerts, etc... And it comes around just in time for all of the warm spring weather!

Bang for the buck

The school is costly, but in the long run, you will come out of school making the big bucks.

What to do for fun

Join in school activities, clubs and events! Going to sporting events are also great ways to meet people. The Golden area also has several great places to hike, bike or just walk around.

Food and Dining

The food starts off great, but becomes rather dismal as it approaches the end of the semester. I would recommend using meal exchanges that are offered at subway or Eisenstein bros. bagels on campus.

Dorm Life

The R.A.s are very involved in making students welcome. Dorms are a great place to meet friends and hang out. Dorm activites are very common at this school!

Academic Rigor

The classes are very challenging. They take a lot of time and effort to study for. Just know eventually it will lead to a better career in the future.

Tips for prospective students

Study a lot, about 20 hours per week at least! Talk to professors and ask for help when you need it! And get involved in school activities, it is a great way to meet people.

In three sentences

This is a great school! You are guaranteed success in your future if you can succeed at this school! The courses are challenging but the professors keep it fairly interesting.

Nelson from Golden, CO

Check out the websites: http://www.mines.edu/966.php http://publicsafety.mines.edu/

Greek Life

Check out the website: http://studentactivities.mines.edu/greeklife/

Clubs and Activities

Check out the website: http://studentactivities.mines.edu/

Great for these types of students

Doers Problem Solvers Creative Intuitive People who aren't afraid to be different!

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M-Climb is a half a day long freshman/new comer event, during which you hike up to the giant white M representing Mines on the side of the mountain, and learn the school song.

Bang for the buck

You will almost automatically be offered a job after school here, companies compete very hard to come to our schools career fair, and a booth can cost up to a couple hundred for one day! There are many opportunities here to meet and connect with people who think and have fun like you.

What to do for fun

There are plenty of things to do here. We're not far from Denver if you enjoy the night life or even professional sports. Denver is home to five major professional sports: NFL (Broncos), NBA (Nuggets), MLB (Rockies), MLS (Rapids), and NHL (Avalanche). If you like the outdoors we're right next to the mountains so hiking, camping, climbing, and kayaking are available. Also Mines has all major sports offered in NCAA Division II sports.

Food and Dining

In our cafeteria you can find a wide variety of food. We have an international bar which specifically serves some sort of foreign dish. We also have on campus a Starbucks, Einsteins Bagels, Pizza Hut, a campus grill, and Subway.

Dorm Life

It really depends on what dorms you live in. I lived in the traditional dorms. The people there were great but you could tell that the dorms themselves had some mileage on them. However, across campus they have just finished building and remodeling two residence halls over the past 4 years.

Academic Rigor

This is a very tough school. Honestly we have a lot of people leave because they don't have what it takes. But don't get discouraged because usually these are just people that just don't want to do the work. But it will all pay off because we also have one of the highest job placement rates upon graduation as well as one of the highest percentages of student internships before graduation.

Tips for prospective students

When you get here immediately get connected with older students and even upperclassmen if you can. Understand the work ethic that is needed to make it through here and make sure that you want to be here for school first. And most importantly find a hobby, a sport or something to keep you occupied, Mines is a hard school so just stay focused and don't stress.

In three sentences

This is a great school for those who know for sure that they want to be an engineer, or even those who may be interested. This school is definitely tough, we're ranked in the top 20 nationally every year for some sort of academic achievement, or difficulty of classes. Also this is a great campus, right next to Clear Creek which runs through the middle of downtown and there is always something to do outside.

Michelle from Highlands Ranch, CO

07/10/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Greek Life

It's on campus, and there are a lot who join, but its not overbearing. None of my friends are Greek, and I have a very active social life. Greek life is more of a friend inhibitor than friend helper. You make friends more quickly, but often times you are limited to only these friends in the long run because of so many time commitments to Greek Life.

Clubs and Activities

More clubs and activities that you can imagine, for almost anything you can imagine

Great for these types of students

Science and math

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M-Climb: We have a huge M (symbol for Mines) on the mountain towering over the small town. It's beautiful, and lights up with sustainable LED lighting designed by students at the school. Incoming freshmen during orientation bring a 10-lb rock from their hometown, hike up to the M all together, place their rock there, and proceed to have a gigantic white wash fight with each other, in the process white -washing all the rocks on the M. Upon graduation, seniors can drive up there and retrieve a rock, taking with them a symbol of what they brought.

What to do for fun

Go tubing down the creek, go rock climbing in Clear Creek, go hiking in the surrounding foothills, cycle up to Boulder, take the bus down to Denver and go to museums, go skiing an hour away at Keystone.

Tips for prospective students

Take AP classes and tests - not IB. AP will get you much more credit than IB more easily. Live in the traditional dorms, not Weaver or Mines Park. Go to class and office hours - your professor knowing who you are can be the difference between an A and a B.

In three sentences

Excellent curriculum that will prepare you for any career you wish to set out to do. The faculty are for the most part very knowledgeable and very supportive - they want students to succeed. The students here are all more friendly than average, and more outdoorsy and athletic than average, I'd say.

David from Golden, CO

Very safe campus but for bike theft. Unfortunately that is a problem at any college campus. Always lock up your bikes. Other than that, I leave my car/house unlocked in Golden.

Greek Life

Both party types and dry frat. Some people like that kind of thing.

Clubs and Activities

All the typical clubs/activities at any college

Great for these types of students

Hard workers, self motivated, intelligent.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The geology museum on campus is world class, really. E-days (Engineering Days) is a three day booze party.

Bang for the buck

The school can be pricy for out of staters, but it has been well worth while for me. I have an offer on the table for after I graduate for 6 figures. I will be able to pay off all my debt in just a few years.

What to do for fun

Study or go have fun int he mountains.

Food and Dining

Getting better every day. They recently opened up a Starbucks and a Subway on campus. The freshman dining gall is greatly improving as well with a brand new caterer.

Dorm Life

Lots of nerds, lots of video games. But if you like that kind of stuff, this would be for you.

Tips for prospective students

Come to Mines if you are interested in academic success, hard work, and getting a job after you graduate. Do not come to Mines if you want to party, have an easy 4 years and live with mom and dad while you work at Starbucks.

In three sentences

A school with above all else a great reputation in industry. The coursework is difficult and may not be fore everyone, but most everyone who has made it through are glad they did. Bottom line: choose Mines if you are interested in getting a job after you graduate.

Seth from Golden, CO

CSM offers their own police department. You don't have to worry about getting mugged or murdered.

Greek Life

There are a few fraternities and sororities. They are fairly easy to pledge into and are excellent resume material. They are very active societies.

Clubs and Activities

It all depends on the clubs you get involved with.

Great for these types of students

Nerds. Yeah I said it. If you are a calculator junky, or are interested in advanced theoretical physics as a hobby, Mines is the perfect place for you. You will be greatly rewarded for completing a degree here.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

There are several across campus activities like Zombie Apocalypse, the Hunger Games, and Assassins. Each of these games involves hundreds of students who participate in a sort of large-scale game of cops and robbers. Its very entertaining. Also, when a new movie comes out, like the Avengers, everyone goes nuts. Costumes are almost customary.

Bang for the buck

Excellent. You pay 15,000 per semester, but the courses are so rigorous you will feel pressured as if at an Ivy League school. In fact, graduates from Mines on average make more for a starting salary than Harvard students do. Mines is the Harvard of the West.

What to do for fun

The Student Recreation Center offers a workout room, two basketball courts, a climbing wall, a pool, a hot tub, too many recreation rooms, and a Subway. There are many skateparks in the Denver-metro area. Everyone plays video games here, so you can always find something to play. Also CSM offers team, club, and intramural sports. Its a great way to get out and do something if you have the time. There is also an Outdoor Recreation Center dedicated to satisfying everyones wilderness/adventuring/exploring needs. Weekend trips are common here as the ORC rents out all of your camping gear needs.

Food and Dining

Slate Cafe and DiggerDen get old after a semester.

Dorm Life

Its very cozy, but there are a lot of people who don't like to interact.

Academic Rigor

Ridiculous. If you like having free weekends, go to CSU Boulder, not Mines.

Tips for prospective students

If you are actually serious about a degree in engineering, this is the top choice in the country. CSM offers a world-class engineering degree. You don't have to live on campus for your Freshman year.

In three sentences

Colorado School of Mines is a place for rigorous study. Do not attend if you don't actually know what you want to do. Do not attend because you want to make money and party every weekend.

Christopher from Grapevine, TX

01/23/2013

Reviewer is A current student here.

1 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Comments

Campus Safety

The school has many blue phones located on campus and houses its own department of public safety that is employed by trained officers who are in the same rank as actual city police which do patrol the campus as well.

Greek Life

The school does hold a few fraternity and sororities even with our small student body. The Greek Life here is much how you would expect it to be at any other public university.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The one tradition we have here is called the M climb. Which if you attend the school and go to freshmen orientation (which you have to) you will find out what the M climb is.

Bang for the buck

The school does have a high tuition rate for out of state students which is the only draw back for most students. The pay out of college though has an average of 67K a year starting salary. So although the school might have a price tag on it the pay coming out will be a great reward.

What to do for fun

Sporting events go on almost every weekend to get students to go out and support their fellow classmates. There are also many Intramural teams to join and make and tons of clubs for you to join and get involved in.

Food and Dining

The food is not the greatest in the world at the main dining hall but it is satisfactory for a small college campus.

Dorm Life

The dorms are a great social gateway to meeting new friends. Most people who come to this school are the only ones from their high school but the dorms are set up to make it easy to meet new people and find friends easily.

Academic Rigor

If you thought high school was easy then be prepared for a challenge when to come to the School of Mines. This place is not for the people who barely get by but is for the people who work hard and stay focused on the task at hand.

Tips for prospective students

If you want to become an engineer right out of college this is the school to go to. The school is definitely tough to get into and becomes harder as it goes just to tell the truth. The people who are willing to work hard and make the grades to get through this school though will be rewarded nicely with a great job coming straight out of college.

In three sentences

The Colorado School of Mines is a wonderful campus located in scenic Golden, Colorado. The faculty is very helpful and is easy to get to know on a one on one basis. The students here are also very helpful since everyone takes the same classes for the first year so its always easy to find someone to help you out when you need it.

Classes are tough but fair, while some of the instructors may be hard to understand because of their accent you will learn the material you need.

Tips for prospective students

Study early, often, and hard.

In three sentences

As an engineering school CSM measures up to the current standards of learning that I was looking for in a school, the instructors want to help students pass. CSM has many opportunities to get involved from Friday night movies to a variety of sporting events. Colorado School of Mines is the kind of school for those dedicated to furthering their education.

April from Colorado Springs, CO

I see the police cars patrolling around campus, and they have a quick response time. Crime-rates are low. I feel safe walking around on campus the majority of the time.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M-Climb! Homecoming of course. And E-Days. And these are experiences you just have to go and do.

Bang for the buck

Everyone talks about this, when you graduate, depending on your major, I've heard that many students have companies hire them before they've finished their last semester. And you usually get paid really well if you've proved you learned the material for your major.

Food and Dining

Well, freshman year, you start to get tired of rotating Slate Cafe, Einstein Bros., Starbucks, Digger Den (which has Pizza Hut), and Subway, but you have to use the meal plan you've paid for somehow. Slate has gotten progressively better with time, and soon there will be a new student cafe in the new residence hall (construction on Elm Hall starts this spring.)

Dorm Life

Some housing is newer and nicer, but compared to some other college campuses I've visited, the housing is decent.

Academic Rigor

It's a challenge. Especially to keep those good study habits from high school.

Tips for prospective students

This is a science, engineering, and math school. So you should like doing one of those things decently well, and if you're looking for a party school, well, there really aren't that many fun parties constantly. If you have a high GPA and scored well on the ACT, then you have better chances at getting in, although girls have a better chance at getting in because only about 25% of the student body is female. Sorry guys.

In three sentences

Colorado School of Mines is in a beautiful pocket on the west side of Denver, so it doesn't feel like you're living in the main part of Denver, but you still have the commodities of a city within reach provided you have a vehicle or the time to take the bus. All the students are nerds by definition, and you work super hard to graduate within a reasonable time. When you're not studying or thinking about the money you're going to make after graduating, there's plenty of other activities to try out and explore like hiking, caving, intramurals, concerts, and all sorts of clubs.

Becca from Denver, CO

You will feel very safe at this school. Located in the town of Golden, this small quaint town still has activity around campus and the school itself takes security seriously.

Greek Life

There is a modest fraternity and sorority row.

Clubs and Activities

As for clubs and activities, the school has something for everyone.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

Freshman take a rock from their hometown and carry it up a local mountian where they all place their rocks to form a M, for Mines. They then white wash the rocks so that the M can be seen for miles at the top of the mountain.

Bang for the buck

Considering the salary data, this school definitely gives you your bang for a buck. It is listed as one of the top public schools for starting salary as well as salary throughout your career.

What to do for fun

The small town of Golden has a few bars which are frequented by college student. If you want to be in a city, Denver is only a 25 minute drive. You are also within driving distance to Boulder, another really town. If you like outdoor activities, there is plenty to do including; hiking, biking, rafting, skiing, boarding and more.

Food and Dining

A good varity in the Slate Cafe.

Tips for prospective students

Come to Mines if you are passionate about working in any Natural Resource related field, or in Engineering. You will not regret your choice.

In three sentences

The Colorado School of Mines is a top notch university. It provides students with the ability to perform many of the skills which they will be using in their respective industry. Considering the hiring statistics and salary data, it is a great value.

Leonid from Aurora, CO

Sodexo has done a decent job in the past year, but food still gets boring and the healthy options are rare.

Dorm Life

The students are awkward, and anti social.

Academic Rigor

It's a really hard school, you have to study your butt of for every class whether it is calculus III, physics, or geology.

Tips for prospective students

Keep your chin, it might suck now but won;t once you graduate with a job while your friends move back home because their peak years are over.

In three sentences

Filled with guys, books, and social awkwardness. The only thing that keeps me here is E-days ( a school sponsored drinking weekend), and the possibility for a job after. It's also very hard and have had to work harder than i ever have in my life.

Anonymous from Parker, CO

05/30/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

There are emergency telephones everywhere on campus, though no one ever needs them or uses them. Campus police are pretty much everywhere and are very nice and helpful. The only major problem are things being stolen from public places, like people leaving their laptop unattended for example.

Clubs and Activities

Mines offers a ton of different sports, clubs, and activities. They have everything from club lacrosse to floor hockey to midnight ultimate Frisbee to a mine rescue team. Also if there is a club that you want to join but doesn't already exist, its easy to form a new club.

Great for these types of students

'Geeks','dorks', and people who love math and Harry Potter -- this is your home. Whether you were a popular kid or you didn't fit in in high school, everyone who likes math and science will have fun and find friends at CSM.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M Climb: every freshman is given a hard hat and is required to bring a rock from home to carry up to the M on the mountain overlooking the Mines campus, singing the school fight song the whole way up. E-Days: engineering days is a celebration that lasts 3 days and involves everything from trebuchet contests to cardboard boat races to live concerts.

Bang for the buck

Even though tuition is expensive in comparison to other schools, the people you will meet there (students and staff) can make great professional contacts -- as they say, its who you know not what you know. Also, just having a degree from Mines opens so many doors because many employers know that you must be a hard working critical thinker to have graduated and that will often times help you get your foot in the door and make available to you options that aren't available to everyone.

What to do for fun

There are a lot of outdoors-y types of things to do around campus. Like hiking north and south table (the two plateaus near campus), mountain biking, rock climbing, and biking during the summer. Campus is also fairly close to several ski resorts (Winter park, Copper Mountain, Breckenridge, etc.) for winter outdoor activities. Also every week there is a movie that they play outdoors or, if it's too cold, in a big auditorium, and every few weeks or so there are performances by comedians, magicians, hypnotists, and the like.

Food and Dining

Surprisingly, the food at Mines is pretty awesome. My friends from CU and CSU have told me that their food is horrible in comparison. In the main cafe, they for the most part serve something different everyday so its not the same food day in and day out. But as with any school... it gets old because eventually they start repeating and serving the same things.

Dorm Life

No matter which building you live in (maple hall is the best because the rooms are huge), dorm life is great. All the RA's are super nice and willing to help with pretty much anything. Also tutoring is available every day in the traditional buildings which can be very helpful. Generally the rooms are well taken care of and clean. There also is a variety of styles of living from suite style (two rooms 1 bathroom, maple hall) to apartment living (four or five rooms, living room, 2 bathrooms, weaver towers) to traditional (communal bathroom).

Academic Rigor

It's definitely tough. The first year is mostly classes that advanced students have already taken (gen. chem 1 and 2, calculus, physics, biology, earth science), though its a lot tougher at Mines than in high school. Even though the classes are generally pretty difficult, if you work hard and do your homework then it's not hard to pass.

In three sentences

On a scale of 1-10, overall I give Colorado School of Mines an 8. Though the coursework is infamously difficult, professors are occasionally frustrating, and free time can be fleeting, everyone is in it together and accomplishing a daunting task is immensely rewarding. Through thick and thin, every student and staff member is willing to help.

Grace from Arvada, CO

The Celebration of Mines allows for you to learn about many fun things to do on campus

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

There is the Ore cart pull. The Ore cart pull is where from Mines in Golden you walk to Denver pulling an ore cart. It is extremely exhausting, but totally worth the fun in getting to the end (where there is food).

Bang for the buck

Mines teaches you how to learn, how to expand your knowledge bank, and your ability to learn new things.

What to do for fun

There are lots of activities to do, you can: hike on nearby trails, slack line in the main common area, clubs and sports, and events such as movie nights. There is always something to do around campus.

Food and Dining

Not the best, has gotten better since the change in company that provides the food. As well, there is an Einstein's, Subway, and Pizza Hut where you can use your meal plan. The only downfall, for guys especially, is the portions provided....not enough in the meal to satisfy their hunger.

Dorm Life

Is fun if you get involved, some of the best friends you will have in college and at Mines are the people you meet on your dorm floor. As well, the activities are a good break away from all the studying.

Academic Rigor

Mines takes lots of time, lots of motivation, and lots of studying. Also, don't let the first bad test grade get you down, for some it takes that first test to drop them into the reality of Mines difficulty.

Tips for prospective students

Get involved with groups and clubs on campus, they help build good friends that can help you do well. Study groups turn out to be your best friend. In high school you will recall that you never had to study, but that changes at when you get to Mines (except for a few).

In three sentences

Mines brings out the nerd in all its students allowing them to grow in their knowledge. The desire to learn and succeed is well present at mines, seen in the students motivation to go push themselves. This school is for those motivated enough to stick with the tough classes and course work.

The M climb--where upperclassmen drench you and your shiny new hardhat with white paint while you carry a 10lb rock up a hill.

What to do for fun

You'll have plenty of time for fun after graduation.

Tips for prospective students

Study hard, don't slack. Time yourself on every problem you work..then do it again, faster, faster.

In three sentences

A challenging, rigorous environment where you will learn a lot and sleep a little. Drink from a firehose and put out the fire at the same time. Very competitive, but we're all in it together and Mines grads get it.

Scott from Golden, CO

08/21/2012

Reviewer is A past student here.

0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

The campus is extremely safe!

Greek Life

Greek is a lot better here than other places because you don't have to worry about hazing. And many of my friends who are in Greek say that it is so much better than dorm life and you do develop many meaningful relationships. Highly suggest it!

Great for these types of students

It is really great for people who don't need to really communicate with any other people. If you can make it on your own without anyone else, you will be great here. Also, if you don't take things very personal, then that is great too. I was told by an admin when leaving, to not care about my dying grandmother (who has always been like another parent) and stay at Mines instead of leaving Mines.

Bang for the buck

You do get a lot of extremely good and quality knowledge going here. And it is pretty good for instate students in particular. It is not too much more expensive than CU, CSU, or DU and you get a lot more from here than there. Out of state students still get a pretty good education as well. You would pay more like a private college if you are from out of state, but it is still very good.

What to do for fun

Golden is right up against the foothills, so hiking just about anywhere is fun. Clear Creek runs through the town and you can tube down it, although I don't suggest it. I have lived in Golden all my life and I have seen what people do in the Creek. Plus cadmium deposits from old mines upstream sometimes run off into it.

Food and Dining

Honestly, its cafeteria food. It is really hit or miss but you can always walk to Washington Street and get anything if you are tired of the food.

Dorm Life

The rooms in all of the dorms are all average sized. Maple Hall is honestly the best dorm because it is a lot nicer and high tech, because it was built not too long ago. All of the others are just kind of, bleh. Really there isn't too much extraordinary aspects about the rooms themselves. The dorms do however have theme rooming. Basically, there are a couple categories that one can apply in where everyone on that floor shares the same passion as you, such as theatre.

Academic Rigor

It is very difficult. It is difficult to get an A in many classes. This will probably be a big shock to a lot of the people who will go here, who are used to getting all A's and maybe a couple B's. I had a 4.0 in high school and my first semester I had a 2.9 and was extremely proud of it!

Tips for prospective students

Make sure that you work in getting a quality ACT score and possibly SAT score if you would like. I didn't take the SAT and I got in based on my ACT score, GPA, and extracurricular activities.

In three sentences

Mines is in a small town called Golden, which gets a lot of tourism. Golden has many small stores ranging from a homemade candle shop to small museums.

The M-Climb your freshman year is a wonderful experience you will treasure you're entire life.

What to do for fun

So many clubs and organizations - the most in the state of Colorado! Plus there's Clear Creek right down the road for rafting and tubing. And so much physical activity to participate in in the mountains, like biking, skiing, or rock climbing.

Tips for prospective students

Be ready to have your standards turned on you. Don't fret when you receive a grade you weren't expecting. Take advantage of outside resources because there are a ton of them and don't be afraid to ask any stranger on campus - they will certainly help.

Tyler from Golden, CO

10/03/2012

Reviewer is A current student here.

0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

There have only been a few incidents since I have been here and the entire campus received emails and texts alerting them. The town is small enough that people are caught almost immediately. Most of the people here are pretty chill though, after all it is next to Boulder, CO.

Greek Life

We have 7 fraternities and 3 sororities on campus. I am a part of Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) which is a social fraternity. On the whole, fraternities and sororities at Mines do not conform to the stereotype of any other campus. We have a super strict no hazing policy and two of the houses are dry, which means there can be no alcohol on the property, but that the brothers can drink elsewhere. The attitudes toward Greek life here at Mines are pretty neutral because the majority of fraternity and sorority members are just regular people, a lot of them geniuses. The Greek GPA average is above a 3.4 I'm pretty sure.

Clubs and Activities

There are plenty of clubs and if there isn't one to your liking, make it! The campus is small enough that you can start any club you want without problem.

Great for these types of students

Do you like being smart? Come here. Are you smart? Come here. Really this campus is so diverse that all that matters is that you be able to keep up with the curriculum.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

We have the M-Climb and E-Days. The M-Climb is when freshman start the semester and it is their first glimpse into Mines. All the freshmen get a ten pound rock from wherever (home if possible) and walk from Kafadar (the central part of campus) to the top of Lookout Mountain, where our M is. E-Days is Engineering Days, a celebration of engineering, Mines, and drinking. It is 3 days that we get off of school where there are tons of events and tons of drinking even by professors. There is much more to it, but it is one of the greatest times of the year.

Bang for the buck

Even though it is expensive (to me) because I am from out of state, Mines ranked on the top ten colleges that grant more bang for their buck than Harvard. http://abcnews.go.com/Business/12-colleges-job-payoff-harvard/story?id=17273504#.UGyiCaOcenC I expect to get a job earning more than 70k a year when I graduate.

What to do for fun

There are plenty of sports and IM teams, but a lot of people spend time playing video games or going out to drink. This town is famous for the Coors factory and our school song is even about drinking. The things I do in my freetime are: slacklining, video games, anime club, FIJI (fraternity), and Pathfinder. Being in a fraternity grants me a lot of opportunities to do way more than I would otherwise, like IM sports and volunteering.

Food and Dining

This only gets two stars because the schools food improved when we got rid of Aramark. The food is still pretty horrible, but it gets better every year.

Dorm Life

With the opening of 1 brand new dorm and the revamping of another, we have a nice set of dorms now. There are plenty of activities every week for people staying in the dorms and I would recommend it for all freshmen.

Academic Rigor

This school is extremely hard. I spend more than 7 hours a night doing homework while only taking 15 credit hours of class. There is not much diversification in the degrees you can take, but they cover a lot more than most majors at other schools.

Tips for prospective students

Try and transfer in as much credit as you can. Research what Mines accepts and try and get Chem I and II, along with as many Calc classes transferred in. Physics is difficult here so make sure that when you take Calculus you pay very close attention to everything.

In three sentences

Extremely difficult school with more homework than most students can handle. If you cruised through high school you will still need to work extremely hard here. The size of the campus is an enormous advantage.

Lindsey from Highlands Ranch, CO

Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon.
Reviewer has been to campus.

0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Clubs and Activities

Lots of clubs, and lots of opprutunities to get involved. Mines has the largest chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.

Great for these types of students

Motivation is a must have. You have to be detirmine, motivated, and smart.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M climb is a freshman initiation. Each freshman carries a rock up the mountain behine Mines and when they get to the top, they (and the rock...) are covered in white paint and the rock stays with the giant M up there. The new students are bussed down.

What to do for fun

They have a rock climbing wall and a lot of clubs. Being in Golden Colorado, they aren't far from camping sites and skiing mountains. There is a huge opprutunity to go outside.

Food and Dining

Meal plans look good, though I have no prior experience to fall back on to make comparisons. The food seems great, and they have a program where you can submit your favorite recipes and the staff will look at them and possibly make it a meal one day.

Dorm Life

I have never stayed here for long, but they just built a new residence hall and each one has amazing features. Mines also has a focus on sustainability, so that is always a plus.

Academic Rigor

Its not going to be easy. Engineering never is, and probably never will be. There is also a very small choice for majors because the school is so specialized. My schools valedictorian last year is attending Mines this year.

Tips for prospective students

Apply soon, and be prepared for the low female to male ratio (25% female). I was rejected before I was accepted, so if you do get a rejection letter, don't be afraid to call and ask why. When I called, the admissions counselor was just as confused as I was because the status he saw was that I was accepted.

In three sentences

I have visited this school many times. Two of the times have been workshops for women entering engineering and sciences and they have both been great times. I always feel welcome and like I already belong even though I am just a senior.

Nina from Lakewood, CO

I have always felt 100% safe on campus. And being a grad student I have crazy hours (I leave very late, 4am sometimes).

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

Learn the words to the fight song. Visit Coors brewery. Enjoy E-days.

Bang for the buck

Check out some of the college review journals. I believe Mines was in the top 25 (maybe 10) for best value for your money.

What to do for fun

Colorado outdoors. Need I say more?

Food and Dining

I don't usually eat on campus, but there have been many improvements to the on campus selection. Subway, Starbucks, Einstein bros and a few other places have been added to campus recently.

Dorm Life

It's been a long time since I lived in the dorms. My ranking isn't up to date.

Academic Rigor

Classes are very challenging. I encourage you to work with professors during office hours if you need help.

Tips for prospective students

Mines has great alumni relationships, which is very helpful for networking. While in school I highly recommend contacting the career center and alumni for internships/co-ops. Contact faculty members too, because they always need research assistants (paid, unpaid, or you can use work study money), which translates into great lab experience for you.

Reno from Greeley, CO

Reviewer is Accepted here and planning to attend soon.
Reviewer has been to campus.

0 out of 1 people found this review useful.
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Campus Safety

I will have no problem with safety and security here. It is one of the safest campus in Colorado.

Greek Life

Very active in all aspects at CSM.

Clubs and Activities

Too many to name. Basically anything you desire and if it is not happening you are able to start your own club.

Great for these types of students

Likes smaller school environment. Likes to focus more on studies vs social life Wants a great education

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M mountain. All freshman carry a 10 pound rock from their home town to hike up this mountain and white wash it at the top. You get sprayed with silly string along way. Sounds like a blast.

Bang for the buck

Money, money, money at the end of college. Has one of the percentages of job placement during and after college.

What to do for fun

Intramural sports; Greek life; theatre; tons of social activities and much for anyone to get involved at CSM. Your choice to do as little or as much as you want for socialization.

Food and Dining

At visits we were able to eat in the dining room and see the different places you can buy food. It was tasty and the meal card will be a benefit to me.

Dorm Life

Entering in the Fall 2013 so am not able to rate this fairly but what I have seen and heard about dorm life it will be fine.

Academic Rigor

It will be challenging. The course load and expectations are high. You will succeed.

Tips for prospective students

Research; read all emails they are not as web savvy to go on line and fill everything out as some colleges are. Apply for scholarships (outside) CSM doesn't offer a lot of scholarships and it is expensive to go there.

In three sentences

One of the best Engineering colleges in the U.S. I would rank in the top 5 colleges for education. You will get your education and a job at this college.

Hannah from Franktown, CO

Campus police are friendly, but strict. They ensure that campus is a safe place to be, and I have never felt in danger in any way while at school.

Clubs and Activities

CSM has countless clubs, everything from Democrat and Republican clubs to bouldering and fencing clubs. Additionally, there are numerous academically rigorous clubs, such as Tau Beta Pi, which is an engineering honor society.

Great for these types of students

CSM is great for dedicated students who want to make a difference in the world of science and engineering.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

During Freshman orientation, students have the option of hiking up lookout mountain to place a rock on the large M on the mountain. This tradition is unique to Mines, and a fun bonding experience for new students.

Bang for the buck

I believe that CSM is actually ranked number one in the country in this category, with most graduates (greater that 90%) attaining high-paying jobs in their field of study.

What to do for fun

There are numerous outdoor activities in Golden, CO for students to participate in. These activities include biking, hiking, rock-climbing, hang-gliding, and tubing down Clear Creek. The night-life in Golden is limited, yet still fun for a small town in the mountains. Also, many ski resorts are close by for weekend getaways to the mountains, which are very popular.

Food and Dining

The food at CSM has improved since I was a Freshman, when it was notoriously greasy and unhealthy. I have not been to the dining hall since I was a Freshman, but I know that the school started using a different vendor for food. Since this change has been made, I have heard nothing but positive things about the food and dining options on campus. Additionally, two new coffee shops opened recently on campus, including a Starbucks.

Dorm Life

Students are not required to live in the dorms for the first year of college, which is atypical for colleges in Colorado. However, a majority of the students choose to live in the dorms for the first year. This allows students to bond with their classmates and completely immerse themselves in the college environment.

Academic Rigor

Colorado School of Mines is internationally recognized as one of the best institutions for education in engineering and applied sciences. I believe that the academic rigor exemplifies this. Students are expected to work hard in order to be the intelligent and forward-thinking scientists of the next generation.

Tips for prospective students

I would recommend being prepared to work significantly harder than in high school. If you know what to expect, I think students will be rewarded with an immense amount of knowledge and expertise, as well as an appreciation for higher education beyond undergraduate studies. Additionally, I would recommend that students get involved. There is an enormous quantity of clubs and organizations, as well as intramural sports, for students to participate in.

In three sentences

CSM is an academically intense institution. The faculty is incredible and extremely knowledgable in their area of expertise. Despite the rigorous curriculum, students retain active lifestyles and are involved in numerous clubs and organizations.

Be prepared to work very hard and commit much of your time towards studies.

In three sentences

Colorado School of Mines is a great school and is full of incredible opportunities. However, it is not a cake walk. I have only been at this school after transferring in for a couple months and it has proved to be extremely challenging.

Matthew from Cypress, TX

12/29/2013

Reviewer is A current student here.

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What to do for fun

With the school right at the base of the mountains there are plenty of opportunities for things such as hiking, skiing, snowboarding and just about every outdoor activity you can think of. There is a very large intramural sports community for those who want to play semi-competitively, along with strong performing arts such as band and orchestra.

Food and Dining

Food is very good and the main dinning place, slate cafe, is constantly changing the food it offers keeping the selection fresh.

Dorm Life

Rooms, even double and triples, have more then enough space and very well kept bathroom facilities.

Academic Rigor

Very challenging but the school provides many opportunities for additional help and study opportunities.

Tips for prospective students

Find people to study with and be prepared to work hard for your grades.

In three sentences

Small and very dedicated campus. The school is very focused on its students being academically successful and there are always people willing to help. While very rigorous academically there are many non academic activities to participate in.

Dylan from Peyton, CO

Very safe. Town is only 20,000 people. The residence halls require 3 forms of security to get into. Very quiet at night as well.

Greek Life

Not as common. About 14% of the campus community is currently involved. There are 7 fraternities and 3 sororities and they hold weekly and/or monthly events.

Clubs and Activities

Over 170 clubs and organizations on campus. The good thing about the clubs is that if there isn't a club to fit a specific interest, it can be created with a weekly meeting time as long as a minimum of 8 people are attending.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The area around is VERY mountainous. You must be a lover of snow and mountains to go to school here, because it is not uncommon to see both.

Bang for the buck

This school rates very high on Return on Investment out of public universities.

What to do for fun

Everything and anything outdoor. For example, over half of the student population goes snowboarding and/or skiing. Rock climbing, backpacking, and kayaking are also very popular.

Food and Dining

The food is generally the same. Doesn't get changed much, but should get much better next year when the new dining hall comes in.

Dorm Life

Lots of socially active residents and they are friendly. Lots of students like to stay up late.

Academic Rigor

As mentioned above, the school is very challenging. The physics curriculum is actually neck to neck with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cambridge). You must study!

Tips for prospective students

1. Don't freak out if your major is undecided. Everyone is lost at one point or another. You'll figure it out eventually. 2. You're at an engineering school, so all freshmen are taking the exact same classes as you. You're not the only one struggling on homework or labs. 3. Don't hesitate to ask for help, we've all been there. 4. You will procrastinate. You will hate yourself for it. You will continue to procrastinate anyways. 5. Just because you're young doesn't mean your body doesn't need its rest. 6. Just showing up to class increases your chance to pass by a very large amount. 7. Enjoy the best 4 years of your life!

In three sentences

The Colorado School of Mines is a beautiful school with lots of scenery. One thing that any student should be prepared for when going to this school is a challenge. It does a great deal of teaching you to be a young professional.

Emma from Golden, CO

There are tons of things to be apart of, and its good to balance out your schoolwork with fun clubs!

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The M climb and E days are tons of fun, make sure you participate! You wont regret it.

Bang for the buck

Rated one of the best schools for your money. Cheaper than CU in some cases with a MUCH better education.

What to do for fun

GO OUTSIDE. There is so much to do, take advantage of it. Mountain bike, rock climb, hike, kayak, there is tons to do.

Food and Dining

The food could be better but its pretty good. Einstein's Bagels was my savior.

Dorm Life

JOIN A THEME LEARNING COMMUNITY. seriously my best decision.

Academic Rigor

Its real tough but you just have to balance your classes, work hard, and the teachers understand its tough and sometimes things come up. Everyone is there to help you succeed; there is a very large staff for help on any subject.

Tips for prospective students

I didn't realize how nice a small campus is until I came here. Commit to getting involved in 3 groups the beginning of the year. No more, no less. Don't overwork yourself.

In three sentences

Great location to be outdoors. Lots of guys. Tons of intelligent people like you.

Sasha

Try to put the girls on top floors and guys on lower--obviously the girls are of higher concern.

Greek Life

There are nine different sororities and fraternities here. Thought that was a lot for Mines.

Clubs and Activities

Grabbed an activity list on my visit the other day and was astounded at all of the activities (of course, I'm sure most colleges are like this). It is a division II school, so those sporty types will definitely have an opportunity to play.

Great for these types of students

Mines is a tremendous school--it is number six on Pay Scale's ROI list. That being said, those who attend there are obviously academically strong students. On the Pay Scale site, there is only apparently a 67% graduation rate. I think that has less to do with rigor and more to do with students believing it will be an easier school since it is public. Mines is not like most public schools. It is in a class by itself.So if you are a tenacious, studious student, this is the place for you.

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

This is a fun one: my two older sisters will be attending in the fall and, for initiation, they have to bring in a ten pound rock and haul it up a mountain to be placed on a large letter M resting at the top. Yes, they have to haul that ten pound rock all the way up there. I hear it is a great tradition at Mines. And for those of you heading there: do NOT skip it. One student had the great idea to skip and go shopping with his mom--let us just say he did not live that one down.

The Koors Beer factory is literally within walking distance from the school. And they say Mines kids don't party.

Food and Dining

Was able to grab a free meal on my visit (didn't actually plan the visit--was rather spontaneous) and was pleasantly surprised at the food! Had some delicious turkey and corn (seriously, it was like Thanksgiving dinner) a sandwich, pasta, rice crispy treat, brownies. There was an extensive salad bar that is open at all hours during the school year, coffee options & drink. Also met the head chef, Tim, who attested to trying to recycle and compost as much as he could. Delicious food and going green!

Dorm Life

Right now, Mines is putting in a brand new dorm, Elm. However, it is not being finished according to the original schedule, so my two sisters, who will be attending in the fall, will be forced to triple up with rooms. Though the room&board cost will be reduced, I had a glimpse on my visit at the traditional rooms and my goodness were they small. I couldn't imagine living in there by myself much less with two other people. But, hey, great bonding moments are to come.

Academic Rigor

All I'm going to say is be prepared. This school has a name for a reason.

Tips for prospective students

Mines doesn't offer as many scholarships as other schools, so really be on the lookout for that. Another thing with Mines admissions is that they are looking for academically strong students--they don't care much for the extracurricular and volunteer work. If you believe that will make up for a poor transcript, think again. Also, a 34+ on ACT and 3.5 or above will get a 20,000 scholarship (guaranteed) while a 30-33 and 3.5 or above GPA will get a 10,000 scholarship.

In three sentences

Mines is a rigorous school for the math and science oriented mind. It is a small campus with only 3,000 students roughly, but it is a beautiful campus. Definitely academically oriented.

Stratton Hall is haunted. One of the halls used to be the state capital for Colorado.

Bang for the buck

There are so many resources available to me as a student, from the rec center to health services to research opportunities. If you accept the opportunities given to you, you receive so much from this school.

What to do for fun

There is a whole variety of clubs to join here, as well as intermurals and Varsity sports. MAC ensures that every weekend, there is an activity for students to do.

Food and Dining

Not like mom's cooking, but good enough.

Dorm Life

The halls are pretty quiet at night and I have very little issue with noisy hallmates.

Academic Rigor

I love the challenge that Mines has brought to me!

Tips for prospective students

Don't worry if you look like a freshman! All the concern around age goes away in college and you gain respect for what you have done, not for what age you are.

In three sentences

The staff here is very willing to help you with whatever you are having trouble with. Golden is a beautiful town and it's hard to get bored at Mines with so much to do around you. I love going here because the community pushes you to be the best you can be.

Anonymous

First year, go for the unlimited food plan. While it does cost the most, it's got the best value for that cost.

Dorm Life

There are many different residence halls on campus which each have their own style and purpose, along with benefits and consequences of living in those halls. The traditionals, for example, are very close to the student center, meaning the bookstore and dining centers, but have no room air conditioning, so it gets hot easily. Elm hall, the newest hall, is far away from most of campus, but has large rooms and very nice amenities, but is rather expensive. Be sure to research the different halls, find what suits youk, and get the housing application in early.

Academic Rigor

Like previously mentioned, CSM has challenging courses, but provides a lot of support for each student. There's a lot of organized tutoring sessions available, and every professor has office hours to help students.

Tips for prospective students

Senior year of high school, take challenging classes and acquire a variety of experiences to bring to college. AP courses are great, focus on AP over ACT/SAT scores. Make sure you're used to using whatever computer you bring, as you'll be using it quite a bit. It may be in your best interest to bring a PC, as some classes (Epics or Biology) require certain programs (Solidworks, Logger Pro) to complete the homework.

In three sentences

Academically, CSM has very challenging courses but is very supportive of all of its students. There is always a variety of activities going on each day of the week, and many clubs and groups provide specialized interest activities.

Alisha from Fort Collins, CO

Due to the low ratio of girls to guys, the campus makes an extra point to make the campus safe.

Greek Life

There are three sororities and nine fraternities.

Clubs and Activities

There are the average amount of clubs and activities on campus.

Great for these types of students

Engineering brains

Share any unusual traditions or locations on campus

The freshmen do the m-climb where they take a rock from their home town, all hike together to the painted M on a mountain right next to campus, and leave their rocks. When they are seniors, they then go back to the M and take a rock back.

Bang for the buck

The return on investment for graduated of Colorado School of Mines is one of the highest in the country.

What to do for fun

There are lots of outdoor activities, skiing, and hiking opportunities. Additionally, Golden is very close to Denver where there are many more things to do for fun.

Food and Dining

The food here is not very good. However, they are adding more food options starting spring semester 2015.

Dorm Life

The dorm life is average. The traditional halls have small rooms.

Academic Rigor

Colorado School of Mines takes a lot of work and every class will push you to your intellectual limits.

Tips for prospective students

If you work hard and study a lot, you will be fine at Colorado School of Mines.

In three sentences

Colorado School of Mines is a small and difficult school. Every freshman class is a weed-out class. However, the community and support is strong.

This is not regarded as the college for smart individuals for nothing! The professors here treat you as such.

Tips for prospective students

STUDY! Think of this school as your labor intensive job. If you put the work in, the Colorado School of Mines definitely delivers.

In three sentences

This is an excellent school for the dedicated individual who isn't afraid of hours upon hours of grueling work. The professors here are among the best in how they present the material as well as how they prepare you for upcoming exams. Personally, this school is by far the best education experience I could ask for.

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